Young people are gambling in more ways than ever — from sports betting and online casinos to gambling-like features built into video games. Adolescents and young adults are also more vulnerable to harm than older adults, because the parts of the brain that govern impulse control and long-term judgement are still developing. Understanding the risks, the rules, and the warning signs helps parents, students, and educators keep young people safe.
Why Young People Are More Vulnerable
The brain’s reward system matures earlier than its prefrontal cortex — the region responsible for impulse control and weighing consequences. That developmental gap, which lasts into the mid-twenties, makes young people more drawn to risk and reward and less equipped to stop. Research consistently finds that the earlier someone starts gambling, the higher their risk of problems later in life.
Legal Gambling Age in Canada
There is no single national gambling age in Canada; each province and territory sets its own. In every case, the age is the same online as it is in a physical venue.
| Legal age | Where it applies |
|---|---|
| 18 | Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec |
| 19 | British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and the Atlantic provinces (and all other provinces and territories) |
New Forms of Gambling: Loot Boxes and Games
Much youth exposure to gambling now happens inside video games. “Loot boxes” — paid, randomised in-game rewards — work on the same variable-reward mechanics as a slot machine, and research has repeatedly found a link between loot-box spending and problem-gambling symptoms in young people. Social casino apps, which use virtual money but mimic real gambling, are another on-ramp. These blur the line between gaming and gambling long before a young person is old enough to bet legally.
Gambling Advertising and Young People
The sharp growth of gambling advertising around sport has raised specific public-health concern about its reach among minors. Writing in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, researchers have called for stronger limits on youth exposure to gambling promotion, noting how normalised betting has become for young audiences. Talking openly about how this advertising is designed to work is itself protective.
Warning Signs in a Young Person
- Preoccupation with sports odds, betting apps, or in-game purchases.
- Spending more money than they have, or asking to borrow repeatedly.
- Secrecy about phone or online activity and spending.
- Falling grades, changing sleep, or withdrawing from friends and activities.
- Mood changes linked to wins and losses.
Help for Young People and Parents
- ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) — free, confidential help and referral, including for parents.
- Responsible Gambling Council — youth-focused education and resources.
- School counsellors and family doctors, who can connect young people to publicly funded services.
- If a young person is in distress, the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline is available by call or text.
For the wider picture, see our responsible gambling hub and our guide to gambling myths, which are especially useful for young players.
Sources and Further Reading
The information on this page draws on Canadian public-health, clinical, and regulatory sources. For the underlying research and official guidance, see:
- CMAJ — Protecting Canada’s youth from the risks of exposure to gambling advertising (2025).
- Legal Line — legal gambling age in Canada.
- Responsible Gambling Council (RGC).
- Statistics Canada — Who gambles and who experiences gambling problems in Canada (Health Reports, 2022).
If Gambling Is Causing Harm, Help Is Available in Canada
Support is free, confidential, and available across the country. If you or someone close to you is struggling, you don’t have to wait until things reach a crisis point.
- ConnexOntario — free, confidential help for gambling, alcohol, drugs, and mental health, 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600.
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline — call or text 9-8-8 any time if you or someone you know is in distress.
- Responsible Gambling Council — a Canadian non-profit with tools, self-assessments, and provincial resources.
- Read more across our guides, starting with the Responsible Gambling in Canada hub.